June 1999

5 life sentences for Evil Paedophile

A paedophile has been given five life sentences for an “awesome” catalogue of sex offences against young boys.

Former British Rail ticket collector David Bellamy admitted a total of 23 charges at the Old Bailey, including buggery, procuring, indecent assault and taking indecent photographs.

Jailing him, Recorder William Clegg QC said he would “represent a continuing threat to young men for many years to come”.

The court heard that Bellamy, 49, of Chapel Close, West Thurrock, Essex, had “set out to seduce and corrupt young men between the ages of 12 and 14”.

He had videoed the youngsters being molested by himself and other men, and performing sex acts, for illegal pornographic videos.

Previous convictions

Recorder Clegg said: “You seduced them over a period of months and years, slowly increasing the degree of sexual perversion until they became willing tools of your every bidding.

“Some, fortunately, had the good sense and courage not to return to your flat – but others, no doubt attracted by financial rewards you offered, did so and the catalogue of obscene behaviour was awesome.

“It is not surprising that some are deeply troubled by the experiences you subjected them to,” he said.

Bellamy, who had previous convictions for indecency with boys, was released from a three-year jail sentence in 1991.

By 1993 he had started a “campaign of offending” which was to last five years, the judge said.

There were cheers from the public gallery as Recorder Clegg said he was passing the life terms in order to protect the public.

Detective Constable Terence Bailey, of the Scotland Yard Organised Crime Group’s paedophile unit, said outside the court that Bellamy’s life sentences were “nothing more than the life sentences he inflicted on his victims”.

Two other men, , Middlesex, were jailed with Bellamy for three and two years respectively.